A change in ownership can signal shifts in team strategy. In 2021, Dodgers co-owners Todd Boehly and Mark Walter bought a 27% minority stake in the Lakers from Philip Anschutz. The deal, widely covered by ESPN and Los Angeles Times, valued the franchise at $5.14 billion ($1.38 billion for the stake) and was approved by the NBA in July 2021- one of the largest minority transactions in league history.

Fast forward to today, Mark Walter is bidding for controlling interest. ESPN reported that he’d present to the NBA’s Advisory Finance Committee on October 25, valuing the team at $10 billion- a U.S. sports record. The bid targets the Buss family’s ~66% stake, with Walter and Boehly (as a limited partner) acquiring 85%. The Buss family retains 15%, and Jeanie Buss stays as governor. The deal, announced in June 2025, awaits final NBA approval.

New reports by Front Office Sports reveal the role Todd Boehly is likely to play in the Lakers’ ownership future. So who is this perennial partner of Mark Walter?

Who is Todd Boehly?

Todd Boehly, is an American business magnate, investor, and sports executive. His influence now spans global markets and multiple sports leagues. He was born in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1973. After completing his early education in Maryland, Boehly attended the College of William & Mary, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration.

He went to study Masters at the London School of Economics and Political Science, a move that helped shape his global investment perspective. His professional career began shortly after he came back to the US.

Boehly began his career at Citibank and CS First Boston. However, his major breakthrough came in 2001 when he joined Guggenheim Partners, a global investment and advisory firm. There, he established and led the company’s first credit investing division, playing a key role in transforming Guggenheim into a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse. His leadership earned him the position of President at the firm.

In 2015, Boehly leveraged that success to launch Eldridge Industries. Today, Eldridge has investments across insurance, media, technology, entertainment, real estate, and sports. His portfolio exceeds 80 companies.

As of October 27, 2025, Boehly’s net worth stands at $9.3 billion, ranking him #358 in the world, as per Forbes. Through Eldridge, he has maintained interests in a diverse range of ventures, from owning Bruce Springsteen’s song catalog rights to holding stakes in DraftKings, Security Benefit, and Cloud9 Esports.

The deal for which he is most renowned is his role as co-owner and chairman of Chelsea FC. He led the consortium that acquired the Premier League club from Roman Abramovich in 2022 in a landmark $3.1 billion transaction- the largest in the league’s history. As his portfolio continues to grow, this latest development further solidifies Boehly’s status as one of the most influential figures in contemporary sports business.

Does Todd Boehly own the Los Angeles Lakers?

No, Todd Boehly is not the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. Not directly. Despite owning a 27% minority stake in the Lakers, the share which was previously held by Philip Anschutz and Anschutz Entertainment Group.

This transaction did make Boehly part of the Lakers’ ownership group but did not alter the team’s control structure, it remained with the Buss family. Well that is about to change.

As Mark Walter is in the process of acquiring a majority stake of 85% in the Lakers, valuing the team at a whopping $10 billion. Upon completion of the deal, Walter and Boehly are expected to own the jointly, though the exact division between their individual stakes is not yet disclosed.

Who actually owns the Los Angeles Lakers?

For over four decades, the Lakers have remained largely under the Buss family’s control. The late Jerry Buss purchased the team, the Kings, and the Los Angeles Forum for $67.5 million in 1979. After his passing in 2013, his daughter, Jeanie Buss, now 64, assumed the role of overseeing day-to-day operations.

She became the representative of the Lakers at NBA Board of Governors meetings. Not only that, she also became the first female owner of a champion NBA team, when LA won back in 2020. So the ownership from her cannot be taken away.

She will be retaining a 15% ownership stake, the minimum required to hold that position, and stay on as team governor. Even as the franchise enters a new era of ownership restructuring. And this decision has been accepted well by franchise legend Magic Johnson, who is also the co-owner and public face of the Dodgers.

“Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand,” Johnson posted on X. “”I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike — they are competitive people, have big hearts, love to give back, and both prefer to be behind the scenes. This makes all the sense in the world.””

Beyond the Buss family, several figures have held minority shares in the Lakers. Ed Roski Jr., the president of Majestic Realty, has held a 3% stake since 1998. While Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who is a billionaire physician and entrepreneur, owns approximately 4.5%.

What other sports teams does Todd Boehly own?

With the acquisition of the Lakers, Todd Boehly’s portfolio of owning iconic sports teams will be full. His most high-profile venture came in 2022, when a consortium led by Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired Chelsea FC from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich for $3.1 billion, setting a record for the most expensive sale of a sports team in history.

Boehly now serves as co-owner and chairman of the Premier League club. He oversees major financial and strategic decisions, including player signings and the expansion of Chelsea’s global brand.

Though the transition was turbulent. As happens with ownership changes, the club went through multiple managerial changes. But Boehly’s leadership helped position Chelsea as the central hub of a multi-club ownership model.

Now Chelsea has partner clubs and scouting networks expanding into France, Portugal, and South America.

Boehly’s influence in sports is just as notable in the United States. He has been a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012. His involvement extends to women’s basketball, where he is a part-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks, a WNBA team featuring star players such as Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum, and Rickea Jackson. Beyond traditional sports, Boehly also holds an investment in Cloud9.

It is one of the most prominent esports organizations in North America, fielding teams in games like League of Legends, Valorant, and Counter-Strike 2. Together, these ventures showcase Boehly’s expansive approach to sports ownership.

He really blends traditional leagues with emerging digital arenas. As this deal comes to a close, this November, it will be a monumental shift for the Lakers.